1 8 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



who dwelt in that ill-fated land hastened to hide 

 themselves in caves and among the rocks, where 

 many of them perished miserably from thirst 

 and the unbearable heat ; and those who survived 

 and came forth again into the light of day were 

 so scorched and blackened that their skins were 

 of the hue of night, and no washing could ever 

 make them white again. Then all living crea- 

 tures, great and small, cried out in their terror, 

 and besought the ever-living powers to save them 

 from destruction. And mother Gaea, queen of 

 earth, heard them ; and, pitying them, she prayed 

 to great Zeus, ruler of gods and men, that he 

 would do something to stop the mad course of the 

 driverless steeds ere the whole world should be 

 wrapped in flames. Zeus, from his palace on 

 high, heard her prayer, and hurled his thunder- 

 bolts upon the head of the hapless Phaethon. The 

 youth, stricken and helpless, fell headlong from 

 the car, and the team of Helios, frightened into 

 obedience, soared aloft to their accustomed path- 

 way, and, though driverless, pursued their jour- 

 ney to the shore of the western ocean. Helios 

 was there awaiting their coming, and when he 

 saw that Phaethon was not in the car deep sor- 

 row filled his heart; he covered his face with his 



